Dr. Doriani's (pictured to the left) career has included service at Northwestern College (IA) as English Department chair and Faculty Development coordinator, Academic Dean at Malone College (OH), Vice President and Dean of Academics at Montreat College (NC), and most recently Regent University (VA) where she serves as Academic Dean for the School of Undergraduate Studies.  Dr. Doriani has also served as Associate Professor of English at Northwestern and held the rank of Full Professor of English at both Montreat and Regent.  Among numerous highlights within her previous appointments, Dr. Doriani has served as SACS Liaison, launched new programs and majors, overseen program reviews and directed reaccreditation processes, and secured numerous competitive grants. 

"Eastern has great people, a clear sense of mission and purpose, and solid leadership," Dr. Doriani said.  "I'm absolutely excited about my new role at Eastern. I have come to believe that some of the most important aspects of an institution of higher learning are the faculty and staff, the leadership, and the culture and values where all of the day-to-day learning and activities take root.  These are strong aspects for Eastern.  I am very excited to get to know the faculty, students, and staff.  I know that I will be challenged by them (in good ways!) even as I hope to make positive contributions to Eastern."

Dr. Doriani holds her B.A.  in English from Calvin College, M.A. in English from Kent State University, and her Ph.D.  from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Heath-Thornton's (pictured to the left) career has included service at Roberts Wesleyan College (NY), as Director and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology, and most recently at Messiah College where she serves as Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice. Dr. Heath-Thornton has provided leadership in the Criminal Justice academy on local, state, national and international levels. She is the developer and founding director of Messiah's Criminal Justice Program. In addition, Dr. Heath-Thornton provided leadership in the development of the Harrisburg Institute for Community Research and Collaborative Partnerships, and continues to serve as the key point person with many community partnerships established by the Institute.

"I feel called to a position such as this, and I am of the firm belief that God never gives us a calling that He won't equip us to fulfill," Dr. Heath-Thornton said. 

Dr. Heath-Thornton holds her B.S. in criminal justice from Rochester Institute of Technology, the M.S. degree in criminal justice from State University of New York College at Buffalo and the M.S. in education with concentrations in curriculum development, course organization and vocational education, also from State University of New York College at Buffalo. She holds her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester.

For more information about Eastern University's College of Arts and Sciences, visit: www.eastern.edu/academic/cas/index.html

For more information about Eastern University's Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies, visit: www.eastern.edu/academic/ccgps/index.html